Toy road grader

ABSTRACT

A toy electrical road grader is provided which is adapted to be operated by remote control from a portable electrical power supply and switch unit. The toy includes several reversible electric motors, one for turning a pair of front wheels to the right or left in unison for steering purposes, two for operating traction wheels forward simultaneously or backward simultaneously, and two for adjusting the height and the slope of a scraper blade.

United States Patent Gagnon 1 1 Sept. 1 1, 1973 154] TOY ROAD GRADER 3,569,969 3 1971 Lemon, Jr 46/210 [76] Inventor: Robert A. Gagnon, Star Rt. 2, Box

944 Trail, 0 97541 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner.l. Q. Lever [22] Fled: May 1972 AttorneyClarence M. Crews [21] Appl. No.: 258,113

[57] ABSTRACT 2% 46/244 46/39h46210 A toy electrical road grader is provided which is d 3 [26 adapted to be operated by remote control from a porta- 1 0 can C 2 ble electrical power supply and switch unit. The toy inlzlo 244 cludes several reversible electric motors, one for turning a pair of front wheels to the right or left in unison [56] References cued for steering purposes, two for operating traction wheels UNITED STATES PATENTS forward simultaneously or backward simultaneously, 2,586,239 2/1952 MacKenzie 46/40 and two for adjusting the height and the slope of a 2,244,528 6/1941 Schur 46/219 X scraper blade, 3,402,505 9/1968 Nakamura 46/210 X 3,553,886 1/1971 Hamilton 46/210 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEB SEP] 1 I975 SHEET 1 BF 2 TOY ROAD GRADER This invention relates to a toy road grader, adapted for operation by remote control from a portable control unit and capable, through the informed operation of several associated switches, of being driven forward or backward, of being steered, and of adjusting the tilt and elevation of a scraper blade which is the ultimate operating instrumentality of the road grader.

The grader is characterized by a principal body part which is carried on a plurality of, desirably four, traction wheels, all of which wheels may be simultaneously driven in unison, either in a forward direction or in a reverse direction from a single control switch through reversible motor driving means.

The grader is also characterized by a long, rigid, forward extension of the body, at the forward end of which a steering unit is provided which includes two free-wheeling steering wheels which may be turned in unison by remote control either to the right or to the left.

The grader is further significantly characterized by a blade which is mounted with freedom for lateral tilting and which is supported by two side by side toggles, each of which may be motor operated in blade raising or blade lowering direction independently of the other, and both of which may be simultaneously operated to bring about a compound adjusting of the blade. The blade is firmly maintained substantially in any position to which it may be adjusted by the toggles, the motor to toggle drives being irreversible drives so that the motors may drive the respective toggles but the toggles cannot drive the motors.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing fonning part of this specification,

FIG. 1 is a comprehensive view in side elevation of a practical and advantageous, illustrative toy road grader which embodies features of the invention, parts being broken away for revealing otherwise concealed mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a comprehensive plan view of the grader of FIG. 1, with parts again broken away for revealing underlying mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the principal body member with its supporting wheels, with portions of the body member broken away to reveal the mechanical driving parts; v

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation showing particularly toggle mechanism by which the blade is supported and operated;

FIG. 5 is a general plan view of the grader and the associated control unit with a connecting cable broken away intermediate its ends for compactness of illustration; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a compact and convenient, portable battery and switch unit through which the machine is driven and remotely controlled.

The novel grader 10 comprises a relatively massive rear body part 12, a long, rigid forward body extension 14, and a front wheel mounting assembly 16. The assembly 16 comprises a pair of steering wheels 18,18 which may be turned in unison to the right or left.

The grader also includes an angularly disposed, transversely extending scraper blade 20, which blade is rigidly affixed to a circular plate 22. The plate 22 is centrally supported through a pivot pin 24 from a cruciform blade carrier 26 with freedom for rotary adjustment relative to the carrier. The carrier 26 includes a fore and aft extending arm 28 which is connected at its forward end through a universal joint 30 to a fixed portion of the front wheel mounting assembly 16. The forwardly extending arm 28 serves as a tension member for resisting rearward displacement of the active blade relative to the vehicle body.

The carrier member 26 also includes a crossing, laterally extending, upturned arm 32. The right end of the arm 32 is raised and lowered to raise and lower the right side of the blade, being operated by a right toggle 36. The left end of the arm 32 is raised and lowered to raise and lower the left side of the blade, being operated by a left toggle 36.

Each toggle 36 comprises a crank arm 38 fast on a drive shaft 40 and a link 42 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the associated crank arm 38 and at its lower end to the associated end of the upturned transverse arm 32 of the carrier member 26. Each drive shaft 40 is supported at its forward end from the extension 14 by an upstanding bracket 41.

It is a significant point that provision is made for limiting operation of the crank arms 38 to ranges of not more than 180 so that driving of a crank arm in one direction through its limited range will invariably raise the associated end of the scraper blade, and driving of the crank arm in the opposite direction through its limited range will invariably lower the associated end of the scraper blade.

For establishing upper limits each crank arm 38 is formed with an enlarged hub portion 44 for blocking the associated link 42 at the upper limit of movement. For establishing lower limits, bosses 46 are provided on the sides of the extension member 14 which obstruct inward movement of the cranks.

Provision is made of means for restraining the blade carrier 26 against objectionable lateral movement while permitting it to tilt laterally and to be raised and lowered at its rear end. To this end a fixed rigid arm 47 is provided which extends outward from the left side of the extension 14 and thence downward. A link 49 extends across beneath the extension 14 well to the right side. The link is connected at its opposite ends, through universal joints, to the am 47 and to a right end portion of arm 32 of the carrier 26.

Identical, independently operable, reversible, direct current electric motors 48R and 48L'are provided for driving the right hand drive shaft 40 and the left hand drive shaft 40,- respectively. Since the drive trains from the motors to the drive shafts are identical, only the right hand drive train will be described and corresponding reference characters will be applied to corresponding parts with the letter L substituted for the letter R" in each instance.

The motor 48R, through shaft 50R and a pinion 52R fast thereon, drives a gear 54R which is revolubly mounted on a shaft 56R. A small gear 58R, fast with gear 54R, drives a gear 60R which is revolubly mounted on right hand shaft 40. A small gear 64R fast with gear 60R drives a relatively large gear 66R which is revolubly mounted on shaft 56R. Finally, a small gear 68R fast with gear 66R, drives compartively large gear 70R which is fast on right hand shafi 40. Any other suitable speed reducing (and force multiplying) gear train could be substituted. for the one shown and described. As shown, the gears on shaft 56R are desirably confined between collars 72R, and a collar 74R may be made fast on shaft 40, but the gear 70R is directly affixed to the shaft 40.

There is a single steering motor 76 mounted in the body which, through suitable reduction gears as 78, 80, 82 and 84, drives an output shaft 86. A transmission shaft 88, which extends forward and laterally, is connected through universal joints to the shaft 86 and to a threaded shaft 90. The shaft 90 is passed loosely through a circular hole in a bracket 92 affixed to the extension 14, and extends forward well to the right of the longitudinal central plane of the vehicle.

The leading end of the shaft 90 is supported in, and threaded through a nut 94, the nut being mounted with freedom for rotation about a vertical axis in an upper laterally extending arm or crank 96 of a vertically extending crankshaft 98. The arm 96 includes two opposed fingers which extend, respectively, into upper and lower marginal portions of the nut to provide a vertical pitoval bearing for the nut. The crankshaft 98 extends vertically downward, being mounted with freedom for limited rotation in an extreme forward portion of the extension 14. The crankshaft 98 has a second, lower arm 100 which extends forward and then downward through a crossbar 102, by which the front wheels 18 are concurrently and coordinately directly actuated. The crossbar 102 forms an important part of the front wheel assembly 16.

The front wheel assembly 16 is arranged with freedom for lateral tilting relative to the rigid forward extension 14 of the body so that a. when the front wheels encounter uneven terrain the front wheel assembly may tilt while the remainder of the vehicle remains level, or

b. when the traction wheels encounter uneven terrain the main body of the vehicle may tilt while the front wheel assembly remains level.

The front wheel assembly includes a transverse frame member 104 which, through a central rearwardly inclined bearing pin 106, is supported with freedom for transverse rocking movement in fixed bearing ears 108 that project downward from extension 14. At its opposite ends the frame 104 provides bearings 110 for the steerable mounting of the wheel 18. The frame 104 is angled so steering of the wheels left or right will cause them to lean into the direction of turn, resulting in more effective steering.

The axle of each wheel 18 includes a shouldered upstanding bearing pin 112 which fits into a bearing sleeve 110 ofthe frame member 104.

Each axle also includes a forwardly extending arm 116 which has an upstanding finger 118 that extends freely through one end of the crossbar 102.

When the shaft 90 is rotated it drives the nut 94 forward or backward, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft, and this, through the crankshaft 98, drives the crossbar 102 to left or right. The crossbar, acting on the fingers 118, turns the wheels 18 in unison to the left or right.

The body 12 carries a forward axle 120F upon which right and left forward traction wheels 122F are made fast, and a rear axle 120R upon which right and left rear traction wheels 122R are made fast. Although separate, identical drive means are provided for the two shafts including distinct drive motors 124F and 124R, these motors are so controlled that they invariably act as one. The motors, drive trains, axles and wheels are all incorporated into a drive bogie 125 which is pivotally connected to the body 12 by a pin 1127. This allows the bogie to rock about the pin 127 in a fore and aft direction, thus providing for better traction on uneven terrain.

The provision of two traction drive motors is advantageous in a toy of this kind. For driving the grader forward under load, the only work requiring the expenditure of any substantial force, the grader includes two small, low voltage motors. These motors may be duplicates of the steering motor and the scraper blade adjusting motors, so that only one style of motor is employed. Because the motors are low voltage motors the size and weight of a combined battery and switch unit (to be described presently), which is held in the hand of the child operator, may be of small dimensions and light weight.

Because the motors 124F and 124R are duplicates and their drive trains to axles i and 120R are essentially duplicates, only the train from motor 124F to axle 120F will be described, and corresponding reference characters have been applied to corresponding parts of the rear wheel drive with the letter R" substituted for the letter F in each instance.

As a matter of fact, with one slight exception, these trains may be identical with the drives of blade adjusting shafts 40. In the last mentioned trains as described, motor output shaft 50R was parallel to shafts 56R and right hand shaft 4t and the drive from shaft 50R, the first step of the drive, was through straight gears 52R and 54R.

In the drive from motor IMF to axle 120F the motor shaft 126F extends substantially vertically whereas the axes of all the other shafts extend horizontally. The first step of the drive, therefore, is from the motor shaft 126F through a suitable small pinion 128F to a comparatively large crown gear 129F which is revolubly mounted on a horizontal shaft 136R A small gear 132F, fast with the gear 1291 drives a comparatively large gear 134lF which is revolubly mounted on axle 120F. A small gear 136E fast with gear 134F drives a comparatively large gear 1381 which is revolubly mounted on shaft 136]? Finally, a comparatively small gear 141W fast with gear 138F drives a comparatively large gear 142F fast on axle 120R Any other suitable speed reducing (and force multiplying) gearing of small compass could be substituted for the train described.

All operations of the vehicle, for locomotion, for steering, and for setting of the blade, are accomplished by remote control from a small and light, freely movable, control device 150.

The device 150, as previously pointed out, may comprise a dry cell 152 (or a plurality of dry cells), a switch button unit 154, and a housing 156 for the battery and the switches. A rechargeable electric power unit could obviously be substituted for the battery or batteries.

Each motor 48R, 48L, 76, 1241 and IMF includes a permanent field magnet so that each motor can be driven in either of two directions, the direction depending upon the direction in which the armature current flows through the motor.

The battery 152 is connected to positive and negative leads 158 and 160 which have branch leads 1580, 158b, 158e, 158d, 158e, 1581, 158g and 158k, and 160a, 160b, 160e, 160d, 166e, 169], 160 and 1661:. Each of the branch leads terminates in a switch terminal. Normally open, pivoted, conductive, rockable switch members l62ab, l62cd, 162efand 162gh are provided, each switch member having conductive ends which are insulated from one another, so that current must flow from one end to the other through an associated motor.

The switch member l62ab includes a handle 164 for rocking it in one direction from neutral to connect 158a to 160a for activating motors 124F and 124R in unison in a direction to drive the grader forward or in the opposite direction to connect l58b with 160k for activating motors 124F and 124R in a direction to drive the grader backward.

A button 164C operates switch member l62cd to connect 158C with 1600 for raising the right end of the scraper blade while a button 164d operates switch member l62cd in the opposite direction to connect 158d with 160d for lowering the right end of the scraper blade.

A button 164e operates switch member l62ef to connect 158:: with l60e for raising the left end of the scraper blade, while a button 164f operates switch member l62ef to connect l58f with 160f for lowering the left end of the scraper.

A button 164g operates switch member l62gh to connect 158g with 160g for turning the steering wheels toward the right, while a button 164h operates switch member 162g): to connect 15811 with 160h for turning the steering wheels toward the left.

The conductors 124a, 124b, 76a, 7612, 4812a, 48Rb, 48Fa and 48Fb, which run from the control unit to the motors on the vehicle, are insulated from one another and are combined into a flat cable 170 of any desired length.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiment of my invention. What i desire to secure by letters patent is set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader comprising, in combination,

a. a body having a rear section and a long rigid forward extension,

b. a plurality of supporting traction wheels on the body;

c. electric motor means on the body for driving said traction wheels forward or backward in unison,

d. a steering wheel assembly at the forward end of the extension comprising a pair of steering wheels and a common support for the steering wheels;

e. means for turning the steering wheels in unison to the right or left including a reversible, driving, electric motor for that purpose,

f. an angularly disposed, transversely extending scraper blade,

g. right and left, independently adjustable toggles mounted on the body and supporting the right and left ends of the scraper, respectively,

h. reversible electric motors mounted on the body and each connected to operate one of the toggles in either of two opposite directions for adjusting and controlling the slant and elevation of the scraper, and

i. a portable remote control and operating unit including electrical power means and a collection of switches operable for driving selected motors in either of two opposite directions.

2. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which all the requisite electrical conductors for controlling and operating the motors on the vehicle from the remote control unit are insulated from one another and combined into a single flat cable.

3. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim l in which the traction wheels on which the body is mounted include a forward pair upon a forward common axle and a rear pair upon a rear common axle, the means for driving said wheels including a first drive motor for the front axle and a second drive motor for the rear axle, and the operating and control means for said traction wheel driving motors is constructed and arranged to compel said motors to act always in unison.

4. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which provision is made of a cruciform scraper blade carrier which extends rearwardly from the forward end of the extension and whose transverse arm is connected at its opposite ends to the respective toggles.

5. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 4 in which a universal connection is provided between the forward end of the extension and the forward end of the scraper blade carrier, the carrier serving as a tension member for resisting rearward displacement of the scraper blade.

6. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 5 in which a scraper blade anchorage is provided for resisting lateral displacement of the scraper blade while freely permitting vertical or tilting adjustment, consisting of a rigid arm affixed to the body and extended well to one side of the vehicle, and a link pivotally connected to the free end of the arm and pivotally connected to the scraper blade carrier at the opposite side of the vehicle.

7. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 4, in which the scraper blade is fixedly mounted on a rigid flat plate, which flat plate is pivotally mounted on the carrier with freedom for angular adjustment about a roughly vertical axis, and bears frictionally against the carrier for resisting angular displacement of the scraper blade.

8. A toy in the form of a simulated grader as set forth in claim 1 in which the drive of the steering wheels from the associated motor includes a rearwardly located, directionally fixed, forwardly extending shaft, an intermediate shaft universally connected at its opposite ends to said first shaft and to a disaligned, forwardly located, forwardly extending threaded shaft, a vertically extending crankshaft having an upper arm and a lower arm, a nut mounted in the upper arm with freedom for turning about a vertical axis through which the forwardly extending threaded shaft is threaded for turning the crankshaft in response to rotation of the threaded shaft, a steering wheel actuating crossbar extending between the steering wheels and having connection with them, and a second arm on the crankshaft engaged with the crossbar for operating the crossbar to right or left.

9. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim l in which the steering wheel assembly comprises a rigid frame member, means supporting the frame member from the forward end of the extension with freedom for transverse rocking movement relative to the body, and means supporting the wheels steerably at opposite ends of the frame member.

10. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 9 in which the means supporting the frame member from the forward end of the extension with freedom for transverse rocking includes cooperative bearings and a shaft which slopes downward from front to rear for promoting stability of steering.

11. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which a front pair of traction 5 the bodywheels and a rear pair of traction wheels are carried by 

1. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader comprising, in combination, a. a body having a rear section and a long rigid forward extension, b. a plurality of supporting traction wheels on the body; c. electric motor means on the body for driving said traction wheels forward or backward in unison, d. a steering wheel assembly at the forward end of the extension comprising a pair of steering wheels and a common support for the steering wheels; e. means for turning the steering wheels in unison to the right or left including a reversible, driving, electric motor for that purpose, f. an angularly disposed, transversely extending scraper blade, g. right and left, independently adjustable toggles mounted on the body and supporting the right and left ends of the scraper, respectively, h. reversible electric motors mounted on the body and each connected to operate one of the toggles in either of two opposite directions for adjusting and controlling the slant and elevation of the scraper, and i. a portable remote control and operating unit including electrical power means and a collection of switches operable for driving selected motors in either of two opposite directions.
 2. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which all the requisite electrical conductors for controlling and operating the motors on the vehicle from the remote control unit are insulated from one another and combined into a single flat cable.
 3. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which the traction wheels on which the body is mounted include a forward pair upon a forward common axle and a rear pair upon a rear common axle, the means for driving said wheels including a first drive motor for the front axle and a second drive motor for the rear axle, and the operating and control means for said traction wheel driving motors is constructed and arranged to compel said motors to act always in unison.
 4. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which provision is made of a cruciform scraper blade carrier which extends rearwardly from the forward end of the extension and whose transverse arm is connected at its opposite ends to the respective toggles.
 5. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 4 in which a universal connection is provided between the forward end of the extension and the forward end of the scraper blade carrier, the carrier serving as a tension member for resisting rearward displacement of the scraper blade.
 6. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 5 in which a scraper blade anchorage is provided for resisting lateral displacement of the scraper blade while freely permitting vertical or tilting adjustment, consisting of a rigid arm affixed to the body and extended well to one side of the vehicle, and a link pivotally connected to the free end of the arm and pivotally connected to the scraper blade carrier at the opposite side of the vehicle.
 7. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 4, in which the scraper blade is fixedly mounted on a rigid flat plate, which flat plate is pivotally mounted on the carrier with freedom for angular adjustment about a roughly vertical axis, and bears frictionally against the carrier for resistinG angular displacement of the scraper blade.
 8. A toy in the form of a simulated grader as set forth in claim 1 in which the drive of the steering wheels from the associated motor includes a rearwardly located, directionally fixed, forwardly extending shaft, an intermediate shaft universally connected at its opposite ends to said first shaft and to a disaligned, forwardly located, forwardly extending threaded shaft, a vertically extending crankshaft having an upper arm and a lower arm, a nut mounted in the upper arm with freedom for turning about a vertical axis through which the forwardly extending threaded shaft is threaded for turning the crankshaft in response to rotation of the threaded shaft, a steering wheel actuating crossbar extending between the steering wheels and having connection with them, and a second arm on the crankshaft engaged with the crossbar for operating the crossbar to right or left.
 9. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which the steering wheel assembly comprises a rigid frame member, means supporting the frame member from the forward end of the extension with freedom for transverse rocking movement relative to the body, and means supporting the wheels steerably at opposite ends of the frame member.
 10. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 9 in which the means supporting the frame member from the forward end of the extension with freedom for transverse rocking includes cooperative bearings and a shaft which slopes downward from front to rear for promoting stability of steering.
 11. A toy in the form of a simulated road grader as set forth in claim 1 in which a front pair of traction wheels and a rear pair of traction wheels are carried by a bogie, and provision is made of means supporting the rear end of the body from the bogie with freedom for tilting of the bogie about a transverse axis relative to the body. 